HOMELAND Expands Cast With Rupert Friend

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One of the biggest surprises of the last TV season, for me at least, was Homeland. From all the trailers, it looked like it would be a hokey, over-the-top propaganda piece. The tagline that it was from the makers of 24 didn’t really fill me with confidence, either – that show just never did it for me. Then, when I started hearing reviews, I decided to check it out. Ho-leeee sheee-it, am I glad I did. And apparently I’m not the only one, as it won best drama at the Critics’ Choice TV Awards earlier in the week.

If you haven’t seen this bad boy, make sure you check it out. It’s a show that just keeps upping the stakes, and completely fucks with the status quo from week to week. Each episode becomes a “how the fuck will they top that” type deal, and they somehow always lived up to the ridiculous challenges they gave themselves. “It’s like they just herded some cats through the eye of a needle while in space” is how someone bad at metaphors might describe their numerous achievements. Add, on top of that, some of the best character writing I’ve ever seen on television, and fantastic performances across the board… fuck, yeah, you could say I’m a big fan.

The news from on THR is that Rupert Friend has signed on to be a second-season regular. I can’t say I’m an expert on all things Friend, but from the bits and bobs I have caught, the kids got chops. And really, this show has earned my trust at this stage. Mr. Friend is set to play Peter Quinn, an analyst for the CIA, who is surely embroiled in intrigue, mystery and suspense in a surprisingly well-written way, and also, because it’s American cable, probably boobs.

Thankfully, details of the plot of the second season have been kept fairly tightly under wraps. I say “thankfully” for two reasons – it was an absolute joy watching this show week to week and being floored, and two – because, without giving any spoilers away, the first season left us in a weird spot that is half “how the fuck do they top that?” and half “where the fuck are they gonna take it from here?”

Seriously, this show is like a cross between Rolling Thunder and Day of the Jackal. The second season premieres on September 30^th, and so thank our deity Party Dog, the Party God, that we’ll have Breaking Bad to get us through until then. I rub your disco tummy in thanks, my Lord.